Our state is encumbered with an entrenched two party system that is able to maintain their stranglehold on ballot access courtesy of a Jim Crow law passed in the 1943. For the last 66 years, the only voices allowed to compete in statewide elections in Georgia have been Democrats (Who passed the 1943 legislation) and Republicans (who have worked to maintain it). This has allowed the Republicans and their allies, the Democrats, to divide our state up into their individual fiefdoms so they can continue to do nothing, aside from seeking unchallenged re-election. In the 2008 cycle in Georgia, there were 180 seats up for election statewide. The Republicans did not challenge 61 Democratic incumbents and the Democrats did not challenge 82 Republican incumbents. Aside from the Libertarian efforts in 2 PSC races, 141 members of the two party system coasted to victory with no opposition. This is representative democracy? This is change?

The solution is obvious. Ballot access in Georgia must be reshaped, it has to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. The draconian petition requirement for 5% of the registered voters in a district must be eliminated, the requirement for a paper petition must be replaced with an electronic version and the inclusion of “None of the Above” as a choice in any statewide race should be considered as well.

Until that happens, we Georgians with have to suffer from the business as usual syndrome at the State capitol. That means no transportation plan, no tax cuts, no Sunday alcohol sales, no improvement in education, no nothing except more of the same old same old.

How do we effect that level of change in Georgia? Concerned citizens could write their representatives, send letters to the editor, vent their collective spleens on various and sundry blogs etc. or, you can break this logjam by voting for Libertarian John Monds for Governor of Georgia in 535 days. Getting just 20% of the vote in the Governors race will put the Libertarian Party of Georgia on equal footing with the Republicans and Democrats, the petitioning requirement for statewide office will be tossed out the window and the days of unchallenged incumbents will be over. That would be monumental change, change that you can bring about by the simple act of voting. Monds for Governor in 2010!

Saying gay marriage will hurt small businesses is the most inane, half-wit argument I have heard in my lifetime.

Mr. Steele…I thought you were the party of tax breaks? If my partner and I marry, dont we get federal and state tax breaks, which allow us to save money, invest it, buy goods and services, pump more dollars into our local economy?

Arent we more likely to buy a house together? Buy cars together? Isnt the official joining of two incomes a GOOD thing?

And on a superficial level, how about the state having a few thousand extra weddings every year, which cost MONEY and mean revenue pumped into the local economy?

My partner and I would probably BE Republicans if you guys didnt bash us so you can win over people who spend their afternoons glued to AM talk radio, rather than being productive members of society.

I assure you, that as a high end interior designer I bring a lot more money directly into this economy, and provide a hell of a lot more work for local salespeople, laborers, and artisans than most straight married couples on my block.

Take my advice and EVOLVE. Join the 21st century.